Based on oil fate modeling of the Deepwater Horizon spill through August 2010, during June and July 2010, ~89% of the oil surfaced, ~5% entered (by dissolving or as microdroplets) the deep plume (>900 m), and ~6% dissolved and biodegraded between 900 m and 40 m. Subsea dispersant application reduced surfacing oil by ~7% and evaporation of volatiles by ~26%. By July 2011, of the total oil, ~41% evaporated, ~15% was ashore and in nearshore (<10 m) sediments, ~3% was removed by responders, ~38.4% was in the water column (partially degraded; 29% shallower and 9.4% deeper than 40 m), and ~2.6% sedimented in waters >10 m (including 1.5% after August 2010). Volatile and soluble fractions that did not evaporate biodegraded by the end of August 2010, leaving residual oil to disperse and potentially settle. Model estimates were validated by comparison to field observations of floating oil and atmospheric emissions.

根据 2010 年 8 月深水地平线泄漏的石油归宿模型，在 2010 年 6 月和 7 月期间，约 89% 的油浮出水面，约 5% 进入（通过溶解或作为微滴）深羽流（> 900 m），以及~ 6% 在 900 m 和 40 m 之间溶解和生物降解。海底分散剂的应用减少了约 7% 的表层油和约 26% 的挥发物蒸发。到 2011 年 7 月，总油中约 41% 已蒸发，约 15% 在岸上和近岸 (<10 m) 沉积物中，约 3% 被响应者清除，约 38.4% 在水体中（部分降解；29 % 较浅，比 40 m 深 9.4%），约 2.6% 沉积在 >10 m 的水域中（包括 2010 年 8 月之后的 1.5%）。到 2010 年 8 月下旬，未蒸发的挥发性和可溶性馏分生物降解，留下残留油分散并可能沉降。